Exactly a month ago, Royal Enfield launched more affordable iterations of the Bullet 350 and the 350 ES. The bikes came in a blacked-out theme, devoid of excessive chrome and with some other cost-cutting measures. Today, the manufacturer has done something similar with the Classic 350, and called the more affordable bike the Classic 350 S – the ‘S’ supposedly denoting the single-channel ABS, unlike the regular bike that gets a dual-channel unit. The bike, priced at Rs 1.45 lakh, is around Rs 9,000 cheaper than the standard Classic 350, which is priced at just under Rs 1.54 lakh (all prices, ex-showroom, Chennai). The dealers we spoke with have informed us that the bike is currently available only in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and we’re yet to receive information on when it will be available nationwide.

The bike is available in two colour schemes – Pure Black and Mercury Silver. As we earlier mentioned, the cost cutting comes in the form of a blacked-out theme on the wheels and engine block, replacing the chrome. The bike also gets a differently styled fuel tank logo - a simple decal instead of an intricate design with tank grips.

The new variants will be powered by the same 346cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine that makes 19.8hp and 28Nm of torque. In other news, the next-generation Classic has been spotted testing, but you’ll have to wait until sometime next year to get your hands on it.

]]>Vishal Venugopal Vishal Venugopal Royal Enfield Classic 350 S launched at Rs 1.45 lakh2461402461401Thu, 12 Sep 2019 21:53:00 +1000414127Vishal Venugopal Autocar India staff photograherMon, 1 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +1000The cost cutting on the more affordable Classic 350 version comes in the form of reduced chrome and a single-channel ABS.The cost cutting on the more affordable Classic 350 version comes in the form of reduced chrome and a single-channel ABS.Thu, 12 Sep 2019 21:53:00 +1000https://www.autocarindia.com/bike-news/royal-enfield-classic-350-s-launched-at-rs-145-lakh-414127#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=Autocar+India+Bikes+350cc-500cc+feed414127Kawasaki Ninja 400 gets two new colours

Kawasaki has updated the Ninja 400 with two new colours – Metallic Spark Black/Lime Green and Lime Green/Ebony (KRT edition). The company has also said that the bike will be available in limited numbers – 10 units of each colour – at Rs 4.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Back in March 2019, Kawasaki had announced that the prices of most of its models were set to increase, as a result of the increasing costs of raw materials and fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. This is when we saw the already expensive Ninja 400 increase from Rs 4.69 lakh to Rs 4.99 lakh.

Powering the Ninja 400 is a 399cc, parallel-twin liquid-cooled engine that belts out 49hp (international-spec model gets 45hp) and 38Nm of torque. The motor is mated to a 6-speed transmission and gets a slipper-clutch as standard.

The 2020 Royal Enfield Thunderbird has been spotted testing again, this time around with what looks like a bunch of accessories that may be offered with the production-spec Thunderbird. This particular Royal Enfield Thunderbird test mule is kitted with a windscreen that appears to be non-adjustable. In addition, there are a set of chrome mounts for attaching panniers or saddle bags.

As we had reported earlier, Royal Enfield seems to be testing different variants of the Thunderbird and we suspect this could be the X model. Some of the design details that catch your eye are the large fuel tank, short fender and the round LED tail-lamp.

The riding position has also been altered on the new Thunderbird. The rider’s foot pegs have been pushed ahead by a few inches, resulting in a typical cruiser-style position.

Royal Enfield is expected to introduce the new Thunderbird with BS6-compliant 350cc and 500cc engines and we expect the company to introduce the bike soon.

]]>Rishabh Bhaskar Rishabh Bhaskar 2020 Royal Enfield Thunderbird spotted with official accessories2461402461401Rishabh Bhaskar 2020 Royal Enfield Thunderbird spotted with official accessories2461402461401Rishabh Bhaskar 2020 Royal Enfield Thunderbird spotted with official accessories2461402461401Mon, 9 Sep 2019 11:17:00 +1000414065Rishabh Bhaskar Autocar India staff photograherMon, 1 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +1000The production-spec Royal Enfield Thunderbird will have a large and non-adjustable windscreen on offer in addition to other touring accessories.The production-spec Royal Enfield Thunderbird will have a large and non-adjustable windscreen on offer in addition to other touring accessories.Mon, 9 Sep 2019 11:17:00 +1000https://www.autocarindia.com/bike-news/2020-royal-enfield-thunderbird-spotted-with-official-accessories-414065#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=Autocar+India+Bikes+350cc-500cc+feed414065India Bike Week to be held on December 6, 7

One of India’s largest motorcycle events - India Bike Week is set to make a return after skipping 2018. India Bike Week 2019 will be the sixth edition of the festival as the first event was held in 2013. The festival will be held on December 6-7 at Vagator in Goa.

A one-day pass costs Rs 1,200, while a two-day pass is priced at Rs 2,000. The attendance at the event has only been growing over the years, and this year it is expected to see around 20,000 guests.

The motorcycle could be called the Commando Cub and it will be the most affordable modern era Norton to date. Kinetic Group’s MD, Ajinkya Firodia, said that the bike will be completely made in India and it will be “very attractively priced”. This is a relative term, and keeping with Norton's premium image, we don't expect Royal Enfield levels of pricing. The bike is being developed for the Indian and Asian markets only and is expected to be launched in 2021.

In India, it will retail through Kinetic’s multi-brand showroom, Motoroyale. The company plans to ramp up its presence by the time the bike arrives, having just opened its seventh dealership in Navi Mumbai. The plan is to have ten outlets operational by the end of 2019. The intended number of showrooms for this year was even higher, but the economic slowdown we're currently facing has hit the premium bike space particularly hard.

The Norton Commando Cub will look like a typical British classic, says Firodia. A quick glance at the Norton Commando 961 California and Commando 961 Sport MK II on the Norton UK website should give you a fair idea about Norton’s retro design language – the upcoming bike’s styling could be inspired by its larger capacity cousins.

Speaking of the engine, the Kinetic Group is tight-lipped about the details on the one we’ll see on the Commando Cub. However, we have been told that it will sport an engine between 300-500cc. We believe it will sit very close to the 500cc mark as this will position it neatly under the Norton Atlas, while still being a premium offering. Today, the only other premium offering in that segment is the Benelli Leoncino 500, so Norton will be entering a relatively unoccupied space with the Commando Cub. Of course, where the upcoming Bajaj-built Triumph (link) will slot in also remains to be seen, because that bike should be a reality by the time the baby Norton breaks cover.

The Kinetic Group expects this new bike to be a big ticket item for Motoroyale, which currently only retails very expensive/niche products. The company expects to sell 25,000 units of the Norton Commando Cub, annually, in India and Asia.

Before the Norton Commando Cub arrives – if that ends up being its name – the Kinetic Group will be launching the new Norton 650 Atlas in India. This is a brand new product for the company that hasn't been launched in the overseas markets yet. This bike will be localised to about 50 percent, with the frame, silencer, swingarm, plastic parts and wheels being made in India, while the engine, fuel tank, lamps and electricals will be sourced from England. The bike will be fully assembled here and sold in markets in Asia as well. This will make the motorcycle quite affordable with a sub-Rs 10 lakh ex-showroom price tag. It is expected to go on sale in March 2020.

]]>Rishaad Mody Rishaad Mody Revolt RV 400 video review2461402461401Wed, 28 Aug 2019 16:52:00 +1000413935Rishaad Mody Autocar India staff photograherMon, 1 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +1000The Revolt RV 400 is the first electric motorcycle to officially go on sale in India and we get to ride one on a go-kart track to give you an initial impression of what to expect from this EV.
The Revolt RV 400 is the first electric motorcycle to officially go on sale in India and we get to ride one on a go-kart track to give you an initial impression of what to expect from this EV.
Wed, 28 Aug 2019 16:52:00 +1000https://www.autocarindia.com/bike-reviews/revolt-rv-400-video-review-413935#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=Autocar+India+Bikes+350cc-500cc+feed413935Buying a new bike in the Rs 5.5 lakh budget
I am planning to buy a new bike in the Rs 5-5.5 lakh range. I have shortlisted a couple of bikes, namely the Harley-Davidson Street 750 and the Kawasaki Ninja 400. I’m not looking at the Ninja 650 because I’m not a fan of the underbelly exhaust. I commute about 30km a day in the city and currently own a Classic 350. Which bike should I pick, or is there anything else I should consider?Ravi Singh, Kolkata

AAA These are some very different motorcycles you’re looking at. The Harley has a rather basic design, but a strong engine that makes a good sound with an aftermarket exhaust. Considering that you intend to commute on the motorcycle, you should be aware that the Harley produces a quite a lot of heat. Regarding the Ninja 400, it’s a very nice motorcycle, but one that has been grossly overpriced considering what’s on offer and it also has a fairly sporty riding position. We’d actually recommend that you take a look at the Ninja 650. It’s a far superior package to the 400 in terms of performance and also has a more comfy riding position. However, if you can extend your budget a bit more, the Kawasaki Versys 650 is a tremendous motorcycle for our road conditions, and it can handle daily commutes with as much ease as long-distance tourers. This is one of our favourite motorcycles under Rs 7 lakh and if you can handle the seat height, it is absolutely worth considering.

A few days ago, we brought you the news that Royal Enfield was readying a more affordable motorcycle for launch that would be based on the Bullet 350 platform. We now have exclusive images of this motorcycle and we can confirm that it will be called the Bullet 350X.

As we mentioned earlier, the Bullet 350X will be a styling exercise over the standard Bullet and the main difference comes in the form of a blacked-out theme replacing much of the chrome. The engine block is now finished in black as are the crank cases. The wheels, however, remain spoked units, unlike in the Thunderbird 350X, which moved to alloy wheels and tubeless tyres.

While the standard Bullet 350 only comes in black, the Bullet 350X will be available in several colours. Interestingly, in some shades, there’s a bit of silver finish on the top of the engine, as well as on the crank cases. We’ve also noticed that the insignia on the fuel tank is simpler and this also differs, based on the colour. In the case of the black version, you just get ‘Royal Enfield’ lettering, whereas the blue and silver versions also get a bit of graphic work around the lettering. It’s hard to tell from the images, but there appears to be a dark green and dark blue colour scheme available as well. What the Bullet 350X misses is the classic pin-striping found on the standard Bullets, and the insignia on the side quarter panel looks simpler as well.

Mechanically, the bike is almost certainly going to be identical to the Bullet 350. This means the bike will be powered by the same 346cc, single-cylinder air-cooled engine that produces a humble 19.8hp accompanied by a solid 28Nm of torque. If you’re eager to see more exciting power figures backed by increased refinement, you’ll have to wait a little longer until the new generation single-cylinder models debut sometime next year.

The Bullet 350X will be based on the 350 model at launch, and both, the base 350 and the 350 ES (electric start) will be available. Whether Royal Enfield has plans for a 500cc Bullet X remain unclear at this time. We believe that the Bullet 350X will be the most affordable Royal Enfield when it goes on sale, but just how low Royal Enfield plans to price it remains to be seen. For reference, the standard Bullet 350 costs Rs 1.21 lakh while the Bullet 350 ES is priced at Rs 1.34 lakh (both prices, ex-showroom Delhi). We expect to see the Bullet X go on sale very soon.

Benelli has just launched the Leoncino 500 at Rs 4.79 lakh (ex-showroom, India). The scrambler-style motorcycle has been highly anticipated and was spied on road, yesterday. Internationally, the Leoncino 500 is available in three variants – the Standard, the Trail and the Sport. For now, we only get the Standard variant, which has been made available in two colour schemes – Steel Grey and Leoncino Red. Benelli has begun accepting bookings for the Leoncino 500 for an amount of Rs 10,000 on its website. The manufacturer is also offering a 5-year unlimited kilometer warranty on the motorcycle.

Powering the motorcycle is a 499.6cc, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected twin-cylinder motor that develops 47.5hp and 46Nm of torque. The engine sits within a tubular steel-trellis frame that’s suspended on a 50mm USD fork and pre-load adjustable monoshock. The Leoncino rides on 17-inch wheels at either end, and it goes without saying that it gets ABS as standard. Braking hardware includes a 320mm twin-disc setup (with four-piston calipers) at the front, and a 260mm disc (with a single-piston caliper) at the rear.

Benelli’s Leoncino 500 has been spotted on the road in India a day before its launch. Not one, but two Leoncino in different colour schemes – silver and red – can be seen in the images. Internationally, there is also a third colour scheme (black) on offer with the bike and we do not see a reason why Benelli wouldn't make that colour available as well when the model makes it debut in India today.

While the Leoncino has been shown in three variants – the standard, Trail and Sport – India is initially only expected to get the standard variant. However, Benelli has said that it will consider bringing the Trail variant to our market too, based on the feedback from the market.

Powering the motorcycle is a 499.6cc, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, twin-cylinder motor that develops 47.6hp and 45Nm of torque. It uses a tubular steel-trellis frame and the standard 500 variant sits on 17-inch wheels at both ends. The fork is a 50mm USD unit, while the rear gets a monoshock with remote preload adjustment. ABS is standard on the Leoncino and it gets a 320mm twin-disc setup (with four-piston calipers) at the front, and a 260mm disc (with a single-piston caliper) at the rear.

Internationally, the Benelli Leoncino 500 and the Benelli TRK 502 are priced quite close to each other. However, we expect a bigger price gap between the two models in India, since the Leoncino will sit at the entry point of Benelli’s 500cc range in India. Considering the competitive pricing of the Benelli TRK 502 (Rs 5.10 lakh) and TRK 502X (Rs 5.50 lakh) we expect the Benelli Leoncino 500's price to be around the Rs 4.7-5 lakh mark.